shayer



2 Sheets- Sheet l.

(No Model.)

G. F. SHAVER.

MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

Patented Nov. 6

N PETERSuPlwm-Lnmgmpher. wnshmgwn. D. C.

2 Sheets--Sheet '2.

(No Model.)

G. P. SHAVER.

MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

No. 392,233. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

,Zive 'fr N'. PETERS. FhomALnhngmpher. wnshingmn. D. C.

tUNrTnD STATES Parana GEORGE FREDERICK SHA-VER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE SHAVEB CORPORATION, OF SAME PLACE.

iliECiiANiCAi. TLPi-O? SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,233, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed March 31, 1888.

.T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen FREDERICK SHAVER, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Telephones,ofwhich thefollowingisaspecification.

My invention relates to devices employed in transmitting speech, and has for its object the provision of a mechanical telephone ofgreater .vibratory power than has been heretofore attained, and of means for focusing the soundwaves thrown off from the diaphragm-reflector placed opposite the mouth-piece, and of other particulars hereinafter described.

To attain the desired end,my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as and for the uses and purpose set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specitication, Figure l represents a central vertical section of my telephone on the line a" m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a side view, or" my device. Fig. 4. represents a View ofthe back of the instrument, and Fig. 5 is a detail view.

Like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts in all the tgures. v

Referring again to the drawings, A represents a (preferably) square frame, ease, or box resting upon two parallel base string-pieces, A', extending a short distance beyond the sides of the box. The back of the box A3, which serves as a sounding-board, and which rests, as stated, uponthe string-pieces A', is, by this construction, held away or raised from any surface to which my telephone-box A may be attached-as, for instance, a wall-the instrument being secured tothe same, however, by screws or nails inserted through the pro jccting ends ofthe stringpieces.

At the corners of my box A are placed four corner-posts, A*, which are provided with slots adapted to receive and securely hold the ends ofthe thin side boards, A2, of my telephone` box, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5.

Four flat string-pieces, B', forming a rectangular frame, are placed upon the cornerposts A4 and side boards, A2, and behind the inner face of my sounding-board B, which forms the face of my box, for the purpose of strength- Serial No. 269,140. (Xo model.)

ening my box A, and the Various parts are held together by bolts or screws b passing through the sounding board B and stringpieces B into the corner-posts At.

Preferably placed upon the soundingboard B are one or more exterior sounding-boards, I, separated by narrow strips i, the soundingboards A, B, and I being connected together by means of four sounding-posts, H, as is clearly shown in the drawings.

A concentrating moutlrpiece, constructed of Vibratory material, may or may not be fitted to the sounding-board B for conveniencein use.

A diaphragm, D E, constructed (preferably in two parts) of compressed fibrous materialas, for example, leatheroid or vulcanized fiber, which I iind peculiarly adapted for use inthis connectionis fastened to the inner side of the sounding-board B by the following means: rIhe diaphragm'platc D is secured by trie screws d to the board B, and is preferably depressed or concave atits center and adapted to be connected with a line-wire, E, as in the present instance, by being` provided with a central opening in order to receive a concave or dome-like vibratory diaphragnrreflector, E,of parabolic sectiomprovided with a ilanged edge placed between the diaphragnrplate D and soundingboard rEhe sounding-board B is under tension while in use, and vibrates simultaneously with the diaphragm D.

A button, G, constructed of non-metallic material, is placed under the diaphragm-re- [lector E, and the elongated shank of the same serves to provide a means l'or attaching my line-wire F and my diaphragm-reflector E together. The button G and elongated shank is made of non-metallic material in order to do away with the resonance experienced in the use of metals, and, being lighter, secures better articulation.

The bottom edges of the side boards, A2, of my box A are ordinarily cut away in order to more readily allow the sound-vibrations egress.

The action of the instrument when used as a receiver is as follows: lVhen the vibrations of the line-wire F reach the diaphragm-reilector E, it is thrown into vibration, and the sound-waves thrown oft from its sides are brought to a focus at the center of the opening in the sounding-board B and of the 1n0uth- ICO piece C. The diaphragmplate D is also thrown into vibration, and, being attached tothe board I3, the soundingboards B, A3, and I (connected by the posts H) are simultaneously caused to vibrate, the effect of the combined soundingboards and diaphragm D E vibrating in unison being to greatly increase the power or loudness of the sounds emitted bythe telephone.

Although I have shown the diaphragm D E as constructed of two pieces, yet it is obvious that from one and the same integral material the diaphragmplate and rellector may both be formed, and theline-wireF may be attached directly to the diaphragm-reflector E, and the sounding-boards I may also be dispensed with, if desired.

As it is evident that many slight changes in the construction and relative arrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but that I reserve the right to make such changes, and that What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a mechanical telephone, the combination of a diaphragm, an apertured soundingboard under tension extending entirely over and supporting said diaphragm,and a connecting linewire, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanical telephone, a supporting frame or case, in combination with an apertured sounding-board extending over the cntire front of said case and supporting under tension a diaphragm connected with a line wire, F, attached beneath or back of the said sounding-board B, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In a mechanical telephone, a supporting frame or case,in combination with a diaphragm and a sounding-board u nder tension extending across the face ofthe said diaphragm and forming a support therefor, and provided with a central opening and a concentrating mouthpiece, substantially as set forth.

el. Inamechanical telcphonehavingasounding-board extending across the face of the telephone and provided with a central aperture, the said sounding-board being under tension while in use, the combinatiomwith the sounding-board, of a line-wire, and a diaphragm secured to the inner or under side of said sounding-board and adapted to vibrate simultaneously with the same.

5. \]n a mechanical telephone, the combination of a frame or case, a sounding-board eX- tending over the front of the said case and having a central aperture, a diaphragm secured to the inner side ofthe same, and a converging reiiector, as set forth.

6. In a mechanical telephone, the combination of the string-pieces A, side boards, AZ, sounding boards A3 B I, corncrposts Af, mouth-piece C, reflector E, diaphragm D, the liue-wire F, and sounding-posts II, substantially as herein set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 30th day of March, A. D. 1388.

GEORG-E FREDERICK SHAYER.

lVitnesses:

F. II. VVilLirnn, E. NrnNsTAnn'r. 

